Witnesham Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Ipswich for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2022. Open since 2018, with 16 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Suffolk
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Suffolk from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
IP6 9EXWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 7 January 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy to attend the pre-school. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. They leave their parents at the door and come in readily. Children lead their own play and learning. They have easy access to a wide range of resources.
They confidently make their own choices of what they would like to play with and make suggestions for activities. On arrival, they explore the model dinosaurs and are keen to involve staff in their imaginative play. Staff get down to the children's level and value their ideas.
Children show that they have positive relationships with staff and are happy to ask for help, when needed. They are familiar with the daily routines and know what is expected, for instance, when it is time to wash their hands before snack. Staff sensitively encourage and support children to understand the importance of following appropriate personal hygiene routines. Children develop friendships with their peers and learn to have regard for each other's needs and feelings. Staff talk to children calmly and model polite manners. They give children lots of praise and encouragement as they recognise their efforts and achievements. This has a positive impact on children's behaviour and attitudes, which are very good.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to challenge and to extend children's learning to ensure that children achieve as much as they can n ensure staff use every opportunity to promote children's independence skills.
- 7 January 2022Good
- 6 July 2021Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Witnesham Pre-School
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.